PRE-SESSIONAL ADDRESS.

Colonist, Volume XLIV, Issue 10138, 28 June 1901, Page 2

PRE-SESSIONAL ADDRESS.

MR R. MoKENZIE AT WAKEFIELD,

The Member for Motueka met his Wakefield constituents on Wednesday evening, but from various causes ihere was a small attendance only. • . Major Franklyn was voted to the chair, and in his remarks he referred to Mr McKenzie as a member most attentive to the wants of his district, and most successful too in getting provision made for these needs. Recent storm damage in tbe Waimea County alone, inoluding the Rooks Road damage, would not cost less than £500 to repair, and some assistance should be forthcoming from the Government. Personally, as a County Councilor, he would oppose the rates being raised, and, indeed, he wonld be a bold man who proposed anch a thing. He hoped that Mr McKenzie would help to get some; assistance with regard to the Rocks Road. Mr McKenzie, who received a very attentive and, indeed, appreciative hearing throughout, said that it was rather late in the day to return thanks, but as it was the first occasion on which, he had addressed

" * — ~ ■» • - i-- • ■*■• -•- - '- ' . '• ' a meeting at Wakefield since the election he could not allow the occasion to pass Without thanking the Wakefield electors for their confidence", though oh the heels of i another session He would refer to the legislation of the last session. The work of the last se-sion went with more smoothness than during any of the sevfen or eight that he had previously attended. This no doubt was due to the old Opposition Parly being almost wiped out, but there was a new Opposition being formed, wbich, however, was ft very different one to the old "Squatter Party." As a result of the session reductions on

asation totalling about £350,000 had been made. This included £84,000 for penny postage, which by the way was not a hobby o. his aa he beUevedMhe country was too yoling for ii ; however, he believed it was answering very well. The reduction of the customs duties relieved necessaries of life from duty to the extent of £150,000, and he Relieved that next session, perhaps, the duty on tea wduld be etill further reduced. The country was flourishing,- and it was bad policy to raise more revenue by taxation than was necessary for the proper wants Of the country, and it had to be borne in mind that a large extraordinary expenditure had had to be met, especially in defence matters, which would not recur.

Referring to the Manual and Technical Iristruction Act," he expressd his cordial assent to the encouragement of technical instruction. Every country in the world was paying attention to the technical and scientific education of its people, and no National System of education of its people wis now complete without it, and if New Zealand was to hold her own and her manufactures to become established and progress she must pay the utmost attention to this most important matter. Thoiigh Federation had not led to any enactment, it was one of the questions of tbe day, and a Royal commission bad been set up to consider and report on the matter. For himself he was opposed to federation with Australia which he would regard as a serious blunder. In a few* years as the population would be mainly colonial born, the political, and social ideas in New Zealand woilld be found to differ very much from those in Australia, and as had been happily said we do not want another Ire-= land. With regard to defence, New Zealand had nothiDg to gain from Australia, for if invasion was threatened Australia would herself have to look to the Imperial Navy, and New Zealand, he considered, could as well protect herself as Australia. Financially too he considered New Zealand would be a loser, for the projected railways from South Australia to tbe northern territory and. to West Australia would alone absorb many millions, and the older colonies having the preponderance of power, would naturally combine for the benefit of Australia. In the matter of trade also he could not see that New Zealand would be. a gainer for putting aside gold sent to be minted and returned as coin, tbe balance of trade was now in favor of Australia, and even the hop grower, he considered, would not be a gainer. His main opposition was, however, on the ground that climatic influence must tell on race, and New Zealand would be better apart.

The " Old Age Pensions Act Amendment Act " had made the Old Age Pension a permanent thing, and he hoped it would never be taken off the statute book. To ba properly satisfactory he thought the pension should be universal and raised to 10s per week. The Liberal Party bad been pretty well abused for tbis measure, but not only in other colonies, but in Europe, measures for old age pensions were now being adopted.

The matter of defence was a very important one for the Colony, and since the war started the item was a large one. Before that time the volunteer movement lacked proper encouragement; there was now danger that tbe other extreme would be attained. It was right that the people should be trained for the defence of their country, but this could and should be done without interfer-

ing with ordinary avocations, and a start should be made with the boys at school. Though he felt confident that New Zealanders would never be called on for the defence of the Colony, they must be prepared to do so and to assist tbe Empire, and this could he done without extravagant expenditure.

The finances of the Colony were in an eminently satisfactory state, the surplus. at 31st March last being £532,000, notwithstanding reductions made. ' It had taken the Liberal Party some years to get the finances on a sound basis, and tbey were accused of driving capital out of the country, but that cry > had like others died out and the country was prosperous. It was true that the public debt, had been increased, but tbis was for reproductive expenditure, and the taxpayer was not asked for an extra penny for the addition to the debt. . The assistance given the Bank of New Zealand had proved a very wise step ( ,\ for he was convinced the failure of the Bank would have set the Colony back 20 yr ars, but as it was the Bank was wo-kicg out its own salvation, and the country would not be at any cost. * Then the lands for settlement policy was one of the most successful policy measures ever passed, and this had'eome to be recognised, the complaints of old never now being raised With such a surplus he believed in the back country settlers being helped all that was possible, especially in the way of roads," for every additional settler was a taxpayer and an asset for tbe country. It was quite possible that several millions would require to be spent on roads and light railways, but the money would be well spent. He did not at all agree with the idea that the Government railway were paying sufficiently well if they paid three per cent (tbey had paid last year £3 9s 6d per cent) for he did not see why those settlers getting no advantage therefrom should be required to help pay for cheapen--ing fares and freights.

He defended tbe additional payment to members and expressed the opinion that the amount would be raised during the coming session to £300, and even at that with perhaps half a-dozen exc.ptions members would not be in pocket. For himself if be was not worth £280 or £300 to the Motueka electorate, then they had' better get some other representative, but he had not heard a single complaint from a constituent on the matter. The increased allowance to Ministers he also defended, 'asserting that as individuals in business the Ministers could earn more than they now received, and he further pointed out tbat the increase was justified by the salaries of civil servants being raised to the amounts paid before reduction took place.

Ec approved the additional members provided for by the Representation Act and opined that upon the population basis the South Island would get"two and the North Island four of the additional members. Some readjustment of boundaries would be necessary, and probably the Motueka and Nelson electorates would be altered, tbe litter by losing Havelock and the Sounds, and the Buller taking a portion of the Motueka district. This would be an advantage to members, for it was almo.fc impossible for a member to attend to the needs of such an electorate as be would wish. His district extended from within 12 miles of Nelson to within 17 miles of Westport, and as far north as Cape Farewell, and he could assure them it;, was ho small! expense to travel the district. He had as they knew been engaged upon other duties since Parliament,,, and' "fie , found that many matters in his district had In consequence been neglected.. The fact was that a member required^ io be an agent for" Ms electorate and it would take up all his time. In tbis connection he blamed, the County Councils for being , so. backward" in .having grants expended, the 7 hands of the representative being much tied by such dilatorin ess. The W&iu-e& County Council was not so" much an offender in this respect as Collingwood and Buller.

The Midland Bailway was a matter he had had' 7a 7 great 7 deal to do with, but of course he co.uld not deal with what came before Him on "the Commission, but be could express. his opinion that tbe line was in a,very7foir7way7of being completed. He believed that the ; next session would Bee about 22."0r72^7mi1es at the Reefton end authorised, and within' 15 years the line Bhould "right through from Nelson to Greymouth. " fie supported Nelson being connected with the. Coast as soon as ( Canterbury, and considered that the line would pay as well as the North Island trunk railway. Referring to the Noxious Weeds Act, he gave that measure his approval amd believed that in a few years the provisions now con-

sidered so muoh a hardship would be [regarded much in the same way as now [ were those' which led to the Colony being freed from scab ih sheep. He did not think the Inspectors would be hard upon those who showed their willingness to do something. With regard to local Government, he thought there was a good chance of something effective being done this session in tbe way of amalgamating loe'al bodies. For himself he was in favor of putting whatever local governing body was decided upon on a sound financial basis, so that application would not require to be made io Parliament for votes to carry out local works. Parliament had many social questions to deal with, and he believed it would be better that it should not be turned into a big Road Board.

The Nelson Harbor Board Act had his hearty support,- as he always recognised that the district would never be as it should without harbor improvement, and the district had large possibilities which were being, neglected. Mr -Graham, the city member, was deserving the warmest thanks of the district for the manner in which he had got the bill through, obtaining better terms than ever he had known obtained by any part of the Colony. Personally, he could not agree with the scheme approved, but he would loyally support his colleagues in carrying it j out. He had not the least hesitation in l saying that a rate would never require to be levied, and he earnestly advised his constiI tuents to support the Harbor Board in its I loan proposals, arid so advance the district. In conclusion, Mr McKenzie expressed his entire concurrence in the proposal id establish a State coal mine, if it was only for the purpose of supplying the requirement of the various Government services, about 120,000 tons per annum. When he left Welliington a ton of coal could not be obtained even if £5 was paid for hy and the same famine existed in Christchurch". T_ere was no reason why coal should be the excessive price it was in the Colony, and something required to be done to alter the present state of afiairs. Questions being invited, Mr S. Baigent asked if it would not be fair to compel the County Council to keep the roads free of noxious weeds when the seed was actually planted by the Council. Mr McKenzie did not think it fair that the settler should be required to keep the road clear in such case. In the matter of clearing land he believed that the Government was the greatest sinner of all, and should show a good example, Mr W. Lightband, junr., asked if Mr McKenzie would endeavor to get the Act amended in the direction of making the local bodies clear the roads, and the Goyment Crown lands.

Mr McKenzie said that he had tried to do something in this way when the bill was before the House.

MrE. S. Hoult asked if Mr McKenzie approved the Nelson Harbor Board banking with the National Bank when there was the Bank of New Zealand, practically a State- bank.

. .Mr McKenzie said that it was a matter for the members of the Board. Personally he held the same view as Mr Hoult, and always put what he could in the way of the Bank of New Zealand.

Mr W. Lightband, junr., said that he had heard a good deal of adverse comment upon Mr Seddon 's trip to the South Seas, and his taking photographers and private friends. He would like Mr McKenzie 's

views,

Mr McKenzie said he looked on the photographer as a nuisance, but he considered the Premier had done a great deal for tha Colony by the trip, and proved his far sightedness. The annexation of Raratonga alone fully justified the expenditure, and if we would get Fiji it would no doubt ensure New Zealand getting a reciprocal tariff from Australia.

Mr E. S. Hoult said that he would like Mr McKenzie 's views on the " Workers Compensation for Accident Act." Mr McKenzie said that he had intended to refer to this. It was practically a copy ofthe English act, and he approved of it heartily. It was equitable, for it made the industry responsible for injury to those engaged therein, and with regard to mining he thought it should go further. Of course contractors would charge a little more to provide for accidents, and tbis would be expended on insurance. He believed the Government Accident Insurance branch charged as premium £1 for every £100 paid as wages, and this would not be a heavy drain on the contractor as his employer.

Mr S. Caigent said this was all very well, but he had just let a bush felling contract for £50, and the man taking it had brought a boy with him, he would like to know if it was fair that he should have to pay compensation if the boy was hurt, Mr McKenzie said that it would only increase Mr Baigent 's .contract payment by a few shillings to make himself quite safe by insuring. Mr Hoult remarked that the act applied to everyone employing hands. Mr McKenzi. replied everyone but farm labourers, and the sooner it was made to apply to them the better. He had lived many years in a mining district and seen the great need for something of the. kind having seen scores of families dependent on the benevolence of the public under circumstances which the Act would now meet.

No further questions being asked, a vote thanks was accorded Mr McKenzie, on the motion of Mr E. S. Hoult, seconded by Mr S. Baigent, and a similar compliment to the Chairman brought the proceedings to a close.